Photo Credit: Nick Powell
The Marisat GOES terminal radome under assembly.

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station uses communications satellites that serve as relay stations, receiving radio signals from one location and transmitting them to another. The United States Antarctic Program utilizes the satellites for the transfer of South Pole science, operational, and weather data, as well as Internet, telephone, and email services.

South Pole satellite schedule forecasts are published weekly. NASA's satellite schedules occasionally change after publishing; check the Weekly Satellite Service Schedule before planning communications sessions with South Pole.

Special Service Announcements 
Weekly Satellite Service Schedule
Text Version of Weekly TDRS Satellite Service Schedule

Satellite service schedule information is also available via email subscription service. To subscribe, send an email to the following address:

SPTR-subscribe@listserv.usap.gov

For full instructions on how to subscribe and unsubscribe, see the USAP Mailing Lists page.

Broadband: South Pole TDRSS Relay (SPTR) Satellite
Broadband: Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS)
Broadband: Skynet Satellite Communications System
Narrowband: Iridium Multi-Channel System (IMCS)
FAQs